WASHINGTON -- The Federal Election Commission is releasing 18
more Administrative Fines cases with $43,162 in civil money
penalties, bringing to 501 the number of cases made public with $717,871
in fines collected. In addition, there are numerous cases in various stages of the
Administrative Fines process. Closed Administrative Fines case files are available in the
FECs Press and Public Records offices.

The Administrative Fine Program,
authorized by Congress in 1999 in response to a legislative recommendation made by the FEC
(see News Release May 31, 2000), has a twofold purpose: to free critical Commission
resources for more important and complex enforcement efforts, and to reduce the number of
financial reports filed late or not at all. The Administrative Fines Program encompasses a
range of civil money penalties set high enough to discourage committees from considering
them an acceptable cost of doing business, but not so high as to be
exorbitant.

Civil money penalties will be determined by the number of days late, the amount of
financial activity involved, and any prior penalties for reporting violations. Election
sensitive reports (reports and notices filed prior to an election) will receive higher
penalties.